I'm a little achy and tired today

 

 I'm a little achy and tired today—yesterday was big. So many laps. So many smells. So much joy. But today, something’s not quite right. Emma’s not feeling good. She woke up with a stiff neck and a queasy stomach. She’s been wondering out loud—was it the sun, the wine, that mysterious dip she kept dipping into? I don’t know the answer. I just know her energy feels low, and that makes me stay close.

But oh, the party yesterday—that was something special.

Emma cooked all morning. The kitchen turned into a cauldron of scent. Brownies and pizza. She was summoning people with smells. The neighbors and friends just started drifting in, drawn like bees to blossoms. She opened the garden gate, and they came. Magic.

I did the rounds—started on Amanda’s lap (a personal favorite), then over to Tanya’s and Judy’s. I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a lap opportunist. I go where the warmth is. I did miss Becky's lap.  Where was Becky?   Emma floated around, laughing with her friends. Judy brought her bird craft, and the humans clustered around it with the same delight I get from a fresh bone.

As  people filtered out, Emma stayed in the garden, quietly cleaning up and pulling weeds like she was winding herself back down to earth. I watched her clear under the big evergreen in the front yard—she’s been trying to make her mowing area smaller. I think she’s trying to make life a little smaller, a little simpler, too. Just enough space for beauty and breath.

Later, we went for a walk. I did some sniffing. Then we curled up to watch Orange is the New Black—our nighttime ritual.

– Peanut 🐾